Engraving, ca. 1585?, 340 x 244 mm., Alvin 1918bis i/ii (before the Hondius edition); Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1827 ii/iv.
A generally fine impression, printing a little roughly in the dark areas of the coat and vest, on laid paper trimmed along the borderline and with the full text; a faded brown ink title inscription in the background. Macquoy-Hendrickx records only one impression of the first state and only three (apart from this one) of the second. The version in reverse is a copy. Henry III (1551-1589) was the last of the Valois Kings of France and of Poland.
A plotter of massacres and murders, he was at last murdered himself. Despite the flattering text of the print, it hardly seems to be love in his eyes.